Dr. Juan March, FACEP, FAEMS Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine Chief, Division of EMS East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Dr. Juan March, FACEP, FAEMS
Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Chief, Division of EMS
East Carolina University
Brody School of Medicine
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
1. Social Distancing
2. Staffing
3. Supplies
4. Covid+ versus Covid- patients
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Staffing
individuals may not be willing to volunteer (surveys?)
individuals maybe ill with COVID and unable to volunteer
individuals may not be released from their FT day jobs due
to COVID and thus unable to volunteer
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Supplies
Supply Chain impact 2nd flooding and road closures
PPE for shelters/field hospital in competition (SNFs/hospital)
Sleeping quarters (hospital vs. shelter vs. field hospital)
Cleaning methods (UV light / Foggers ?)
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Hurricane Floyd 1999- Cat 3
Supplies
Supply Chain impact 2nd flooding and road closures
PPE for shelters/field hospital in competition (SNFs/hospital)
Sleeping quarters (hospital vs. shelter vs. field hospital)
Cleaning methods (UV light / Foggers ?)
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Hurricane Isaias - Cat I
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Hurricane Isaias - Cat I
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Hurricanes and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm Hurricane Isaias - Cat I
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Tornado EF1 - Bertie County
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Tornado EF1 - Bertie County
Social Distancing
hospital staff (sleeping quarters during/after storm, ? hotels)
people may not evacuate (need to educate public of risks)
shelters (to assure social distancing need more of them)
special needs shelters for medical fragile pts (more needed)
Tornado EF1 - Bertie County
Covid+ vs PUI vs Covid- patients
Need to divide field hospitals & shelters into different zones
Need specific protocols and processes
COVID testing???
Increased Resp Disease with Hurricanes
Hurricanes and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm
Rath B et al. Public Health Rep. 2011;126(6):853-60
Gargano LM et al Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018;12(6):697-702
1. Social Distancing
2. Staffing
3. Supplies
4. Covid+ versus Covid- patients
Hurricane Isaias and COVID19 - A Perfect Storm